Maturity
by
Alan Reid
Until we should all attain...to mature manhood, to the adult stature of Christ's complement. -- Ephesians 4:13
IT IS INCUMBENT upon every saint of God to give the subject of maturity prayerful and constant consideration. No one, physically mature, cares to be considered "childish" or credited only with the imperfect intellect of the adolescent, yet, unfortunately, it causes no concern to the bulk of believers that they are unable to comprehend the transcendent truths of the Scriptures of Truth. Not only so, but there is a marked apathy and stagnation in the spiritual life of many of God's dear people--a stunted growth in their Christian life which bespeaks the lack of solid nourishment. Were Paul to return and pen a letter to the saints today, would he not have to write as of old? "And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to minors in Christ" (1 Cor.3:1). God has made rich provision of "solid food" for us. The question is, Are we yet able? The writer to the Hebrews had to administer a rebuke similar to that of Paul to the Corinthian saints. Instead of being teachers, they themselves required to be taught--taught even the "rudimentary elements of the oracles of God" (Heb.5:12), and had need of milk, being then incapable of solid nurture. Certainly, a knowledge of the rudiments of the Word of Christ was an indispensable foundation, but with that alone maturity could not be reached.
The cause of the Corinthian immaturity was carnality, evidenced by the divisions existing among them, the outgrowth of partisan tendencies. Consequently, they were still fleshly and walked according to man (1 Cor.3:3). It must be concluded that, if a saint is incapable of assimilating the nourishment necessary for the maintenance of spiritual growth, then his mind cannot be influenced by the revelation of God, which will renew the mind and transform the life. The knowledge of the progressive revelation of the Word of Truth is as necessary for the saint's spiritual growth as the blood to his physical existence. Just as the blood bathes and nourishes the body tissues, so the Word of God should pervade the mind of the believer, transforming it and renewing it. A mind transformed in this way is the surest safeguard against configurement to this eon. Immaturity is vulnerable to the allurements of the world. Our logical service to God is to present our bodies a living sacrifice to Him--not to be configured to this eon, but transformed (Rom.12:1,2). What can this eon, laden as it is with gross vice, violence, intrigue and sin, hold for the child of God? What has it to offer that will satisfy? These questions have only one answer --nothing. Yet it is passing strange that there are those, like Demas, who love this current eon (2 Tim.4:10), and are deluded by the mirage of its subtle attractions.
God's revelation of truth was progressive. While it would seem that, in the Corinthian ecclesia, a few were mature (1 Cor. 2:6), to whom Paul could speak God's wisdom in a secret, the majority were not capable of understanding. For the purpose of leading these believers on to maturity, gifts were given (1 Cor. 12:27-31), but these were temporary and served during the era of readjustment. That this was so was clearly indicated by the apostle when he spoke of "a path suited to transcendence" (verse 31). Prophecies and knowledge were to be done away with, languages would cease (1 Cor.13:8,9), and, when maturity came, that which was out of an instalment was to be abrogated (verse 10). Everything pointed to something yet to be revealed.
The Coming of Maturity
Comparison between the Corinthian and Ephesian epistles (1 Cor.12:28-30; Eph.4:11) will show that, when maturity did come, the lesser graces were dispensed with and the special gifts narrowed down to three evangelists, pastors and teachers. With the penning of Paul's perfection epistles, maturity came (Eph.4:13; Phil 3:15; Col.1:28; 4:12). That which was esoteric and had been withheld from the majority of the Corinthian saints on account of their fleshly disposition, now burst forth in its amazing comprehensiveness. With these extraordinary epistles, the Word of God was completed (Col.1:25), in the sense that it embraced pre- and post-eonian times, and was now universal in scope. The irritating and restricting barriers of Judaism had vanished and a SECRET had been revealed. And such a secret! CHRIST AMONG THE NATIONS--A glorious expectation (Col.1:27).
Unburdened now of this unparalleled revelation, Paul's fervent desire was to see it comprehended. For this cause he struggled in prayer on behalf of the saints. The truth was precious to Paul and his life was one intense longing that others might share its preciousness. His petitions were always pointed, never self-centered or beclouded in rhetoric. We are given a glimpse of his prayer life in the first chapter of Romans, where he makes mention of the saints unintermittingly, that they should be established. In Ephesians, he bows the knee (Eph.3:14-21), beseeching that "you may be completed for the entire complement of God." A tremendous request born of an intense longing for the spiritual welfare of his fellow saints!
The prerogative of every believer is the attaining to "mature manhood, to the adult stature of Christ's complement" (Eph.4:13). Such a goal seems to be set in an aurora too brilliant for our feeble vision to behold, but it is within the reach of every saint of God. If not, then Paul prayed and toiled, admonished and taught in vain (Col.1:28,29). But he labored to present every man mature—not a few--and we can praise God that the attainment of maturity is a possibility to every child of His. Paul's testimony to Epaphras' solicitude for the Colossian ecclesia is one of the most touching records of affection we have. It is evident that the truth and grace of God had wrought effectively in the heart of this fellow captive of his, and his own concerns were submerged in his constant thought for his fellow saints. No other word could convey the intensity of the desire that impelled Epaphras' prayers so much as "struggling." These petitions on behalf of the Colossian believers were that they MAY STAND MATURE and fully assured in all the will of God (Col.4:12). And Paul adds "For I am testifying of him that he has much misery over you."
We are designated to be conformed to the image of the Son of God (Rom.8:29). What a glorious prospect for each dear child of God! What an incentive to "stretching out in front towards the goal" and pursuing of the prize! Conformation to the image of God's dear Son; not configuration to this eon.
It was a source of great grief to the beloved apostle that there were those who were "disposed to terrestrial things." May it not be said of us who read these notes that we are so disposed, but that we seek, and are disposed to, that which is above, where Christ is! (Col.3:1-3). In evil, minors, in DISPOSITION, MATURE!